Jannik Sinner beat Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-4 at the Monte Carlo Masters on Friday to reach the semi-finals and keep alive his chance of returning to world number one.
The 24-year-old Italian will meet Alexander Zverev for a place in the final after the German advanced with a 7-5, 6-7 (3-7), 6-3 win over Joao Fonseca. Sinner’s victory stretched his winning run in Masters 1000 events to 20 matches, a sequence that has already carried him to titles in Paris, Indian Wells and Miami.
Sinner said the match gave him something to build on after a difficult week, calling it “a step forwards” and adding that he had to improve in several areas. He also pointed to his serve as a work in progress, but said he was happy to be back in the semi-finals.
Read Also: Alcaraz meets Etcheverry in Montecarlo last-16 as Sinner also advances
That confidence has come even as the Italian has been pushed harder than usual in Monte Carlo. He dropped a set at a Masters event for the first time in 186 days during his last-16 win over Tomas Machac, a reminder that the clay-court season is still testing the top of the draw. On the other side of the bracket, Carlos Alcaraz reached the last four with a 6-3, 6-0 win over Alexander Bublik, while Valentin Vacherot beat Alex de Minaur 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to join the final weekend.
Read Also: Tomáš Macháč vs Jannik Sinner prediction, odds for Monte Carlo clash
The ranking stakes remain clear. If Sinner wins the tournament, he can replace Alcaraz as world number one when the rankings are updated on Monday. With Zverev next and Alcaraz already through, the Monte Carlo Masters now carries both a title race and a direct fight for the top spot.
